Natalie’s double cause for celebration!

Chris Boden

The 22-year-old is back in the England netball squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Trinidad and Tobago – on the back of an impressive Netball Superleague season, where she has helped Yorkshire Jets finish third and reach the playoffs.

I just feel really lucky and excited to have the opportunity

The winners will face either champions Manchester Thunder or Hertfordshire Mavericks at the Copper Box Arena at London’s Olympic Park for the Superleague Finals weekend, the following week.

And Natalie said, ahead of her penultimate training session before tomorrow’s game: “I’m so happy to finish third – that was our target, and it’s the first time we’ve finished in the top four in the six years I’ve been here.

“But then to be told I was back in the England squad as well was amazing.

“I just feel really lucky and excited to have the opportunity.”

The opening match of the Test series, part of the build-up to this summer’s Netball World Cup in Australia, will take place at the University of Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday, May 6th (7-15 p.m.).

But Natalie has business to attend to first in Surrey: “Now we’re in the semi-finals, we don’t want to stop there, we all want to get to the final even more.

“It’s in touching distance – I’ve never played at the Copper Box. But it will be tough against Surrey, we had our biggest defeat of the season against them, and they have three England players.”